HB76 has been amended many times since its origination. In its current form, it creates a new felony offense for people living with “incurable” sexually transmitted infections (STIs), like HIV, Herpes, HPV, and Hepatitis B, who engage in sex, donate blood or tissue, or share needles with someone without their “knowing and lawful consent”,and who do so with the “specific intent to infect.” Importantly, the bill no longer requires that transmission actually occur. A person can be prosecuted based solely on their perceived intent, even if no one is harmed or exposed. The penalty includes up to 10 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, and mandatory sex offender registration. If the other person is a minor, elderly, or has a disability, the punishment can rise to 99 years.

The bill does not repeal Louisiana’s current HIV exposure statute, meaning both laws remain on the books and may be used at the prosecutor’s discretion. This overlap could lead to overcharging, confusion, and increased criminalization of people living with HIV. While the law includes affirmative defenses, such as disclosing status or using prevention, these only apply after arrest, offering no protection from being jailed or prosecuted. This bill risks deterring STI testing and treatment, increasing stigma, and disproportionately harming marginalized communities.

STATUS: Passed the House and crossed over into the Senate where it never got a hearing in the Senate Judiciary C Committee. Knowing the bill wouldn’t pass, the author of the bill shifted to passing a study resolution, HB322, which creates a task force to study public health outcomes related to the “incurable” STIs she was intending to criminalize with the bill.

HB400 was amended in committee and now more clearly defines the limits and exceptions to when minors can consent to their own medical or mental health care. While the original version already restricted a minor’s ability to independently access care, the amended bill clarifies and slightly expands the list of exceptions — allowing minors to consent without a parent in cases such as pregnancy-related care, treatment for STIs or substance use, blood donation, enrollment in postsecondary education at age 17, or when they are experiencing abuse or neglect. The amendment also adds new definitions for “abuse” and “neglect,” including coerced abortion and female genital mutilation.

The bill still repeals multiple laws that previously allowed minors broader access to healthcare without parental involvement, such as preventive counseling in schools. It affirms that, in nearly all other situations, written parental consent is required for medical and mental health services provided to minors, and that parents or legal guardians must be granted access to their child’s medical records. Though framed as strengthening parental rights, the bill continues to raise concerns about access to care for vulnerable youth who may not be able to safely involve a parent or guardian.

STATUS: Passed the House and crossed over to the Senate where it failed to pass the Senate Health & Welfare Committee on June 8th.

HB421 was amended in committee and introduced as substitute bill HB685, transforming it from a limited directive to state agencies into a far-reaching ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across both Louisiana’s executive branch and public higher education system. While the original bill focused on requiring agency heads to eliminate DEI offices and policies within state departments, the substitute bill expands that mandate significantly. It prohibits all state agencies and public colleges from operating DEI programs, hiring DEI staff, or requiring any statements or activities related to DEI in employment, admissions, or financial aid. It also forbids giving preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

HB685 goes further by restricting what public colleges can teach. It bans “DEI-related instructional content” in undergraduate degree requirements — including general education and major or minor coursework — unless the program is clearly designated as a racial, ethnic, or gender studies department. Topics barred from required coursework include systemic racism, intersectionality, white privilege, implicit bias, gender identity, and pronoun usage. While the bill preserves academic freedom within individual classrooms and exempts content required by federal law, it mandates annual audits to enforce compliance and prohibits renaming academic programs to emphasize race, ethnicity, or gender. HB685 represents a sweeping ideological crackdown that could suppress inclusive teaching, limit academic autonomy, and undermine efforts to support marginalized students and public workers across the state.

STATUS: Passed the House and crossed over to the Senate. Since May 21st, the Senate has refused to refer the bill to a Senate Committee. This is an unusual move. Without a Senate Committee vote, it will fail to pass this legislative session. Learn more here.

SB58 was amended to significantly narrow who can be charged with the newly created crime of “child grooming” while also increasing the severity of its penalties. The amended bill now applies only to actions involving children under the age of 13, rather than under 17 as originally written, and it removes the requirement that the accused be at least two years older than the child. This means that minors themselves can still be charged. The bill makes it a felony to “persuade, induce, entice, seduce, or coerce” a child under 13 to engage in conduct intended to facilitate a lewd or lascivious act, even if no such act actually occurs. Prosecutors can rely on a range of contextual factors to prove intent, including whether the child was isolated, whether there were sexual conversations, or whether the conduct occurred without parental knowledge. The penalty for a conviction is up to 15 years in prison, with or without hard labor, and the offense is now classified as a “sexual offense against a victim who is a minor,” which triggers mandatory sex offender registration.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The effective date is August 1, 2025.

SB74 was amended in committee and would significantly alter how juvenile felony cases are handled in Louisiana by expanding the power of the criminal court system over youth. The original version of the bill would have required that youth aged 15 or older accused of serious felonies—such as murder, rape, or kidnapping—must be prosecuted under the adult criminal justice system if probable cause was found or an indictment was issued. It also would have required juvenile courts to immediately transfer such cases to district courts and allowed for detention in adult facilities.

The amended version softens that mandate but still gives broad new discretion to district attorneys to transfer juvenile cases—including those involving children under 15—to adult district, parish, or city courts, even in places where a special juvenile court exists. It also allows for prosecution of certain felonies and misdemeanors in adult criminal court without requiring a full transfer hearing, expanding the range of cases that can be moved out of juvenile court. While the bill retains some procedural protections, it opens the door for more youth to be tried in adult court settings, raising concerns about due process, disproportionate sentencing, and the long-term consequences of exposing children to the adult criminal legal system.

STATUS: Passed the Senate Judiciary C Committee on April 29th. The Senate recommitted the bill to the Senate Finance Committee for a financial review where it failed to move forward.

HB307 was amended in committee but remains a deeply concerning anti-immigrant bill that would require state agencies and local governments in Louisiana to report undocumented individuals who apply for public assistance to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The original bill required agencies to verify the immigration status of all applicants for public benefits and to refer any undocumented individuals to ICE, while also terminating their benefits. The amended version keeps all of these core provisions but adds a requirement that the secretary of state be included in the list of officials who receive the annual report detailing how many people were reported to ICE and how many had their benefits cut.

The bill applies to a wide range of services, including healthcare, housing, food assistance, unemployment, and education, and would create a surveillance pipeline that deters immigrants and mixed-status families from accessing essential services, even if they are lawfully present or eligible. While supporters frame it as an enforcement measure, HB307 forces frontline workers to participate in immigration policing and risks further marginalizing vulnerable communities. It prioritizes reporting and punishment over human needs, eroding trust in public programs meant to support basic survival.

STATUS: Passed into law. Effective date August 1, 2025.

SB15 was amended in committee and now significantly expands Louisiana’s criminal code to penalize both public officials and private individuals who interfere with federal immigration enforcement. The original version aimed to create new penalties for actions seen as obstructing immigration enforcement efforts. The amended version goes further, adding specific language to existing laws on obstruction of justice and malfeasance in office, making it a crime to take any action — or fail to take action — with the intent to hinder, delay, or ignore requests from federal immigration agencies like ICE, CBP, or USCIS.

Under the amended bill, a person who obstructs a civil immigration proceeding can be fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to one year. Interfering with an official act of a government agent (including non-criminal acts like information requests or administrative actions) carries penalties of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Public employees and officers — such as police, jail officials, or agency staff — can be charged with malfeasance in office if they release someone without notifying ICE or if they refuse to honor an ICE detainer or request. While the bill includes a clause stating it does not interfere with the general duties of sheriffs and police chiefs, it explicitly mandates compliance with written federal immigration detainers involving individuals believed to have entered or remained in the U.S. unlawfully.

Critics warn that SB15 could turn routine local governance into a surveillance and enforcement arm of federal immigration policy. It puts frontline public workers and local officials at risk of criminal charges for making case-by-case decisions or upholding community trust policies. The bill also opens the door to criminalizing private acts of solidarity, such as helping someone avoid ICE detection, and could disproportionately impact immigrant communities, legal advocates, and public servants navigating conflicting legal and ethical obligations.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. Effective date August 1, 2025.

HB436 is a bill that would prohibit undocumented immigrants from receiving full compensation if they’re injured in a car accident in Louisiana. Specifically, it bars “unauthorized aliens” from recovering general damages (like pain and suffering) or compensation for past and future lost wages in personal injury lawsuits related to automobile accidents. While undocumented people could still seek limited “special damages” (such as medical bills), this bill denies them equal protection under civil law and effectively devalues their injuries. It creates a two-tiered justice system where legal rights to compensation depend not on who was at fault in the crash, but on a person’s immigration status.

STATUS: Passed the House the Senate, and signed by the Governor. Effective on August 1st, 2025.

HB425 was amended in committee but remains focused on expanding and criminalizing the concept of "coerced abortion" in Louisiana. The amended version modifies the current law by broadening the types of conduct that qualify as coercion and by adding new legal definitions and penalties. Under the updated bill, someone commits the crime of coerced abortion if they knowingly use or threaten physical force, control, or intimidation to compel a pregnant person to undergo an abortion against their will, regardless of whether the procedure is attempted or completed. The bill now defines "force, control, or intimidation" to include battery, assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or extortion.

A key amendment also adds to Louisiana’s definition of extortion: it is now considered extortion to threaten someone with the intent to compel them to have an abortion. This change pulls coerced abortion into a broader category of crimes, escalating both its symbolic and legal weight. The bill maintains penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, with the added specification that imprisonment may be served with or without hard labor.

While the bill is framed as protecting pregnant people from violence, its expanded language and emphasis on criminalization raise concerns. It could create confusion or fear around supportive conversations about abortion, especially in personal relationships or caregiving settings. Additionally, by linking coerced abortion to crimes like assault and extortion, the bill may blur the lines between abuse and influence, making it harder for survivors to seek help without triggering criminal consequences for others. The emphasis remains on punishment rather than on expanding access to care, safety, or resources for those navigating coercion or reproductive abuse.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. Effective date August 1, 2025.

HB575 was amended in committee to significantly expand and update Louisiana’s civil liability statute for the “unlawful termination of a pregnancy.” The original version established civil liability for individuals who perform abortions, allowing the pregnant person to sue for damages. The amended bill goes much further. It now allows not only the pregnant person, but also the biological father (except in cases of rape or incest), grandparents, and legal custodians (if the pregnant person is a minor) to sue anyone who performs, causes, or “substantially facilitates” an abortion.

The bill defines “substantially facilitates” to include actions like prescribing, advertising, promoting, or selling abortion-inducing drugs. It allows plaintiffs to seek statutory damages, general and special damages, emotional distress, and exemplary damages — including a mandatory $100,000 minimum in some cases. It extends the filing window to five years from the discovery of damage and allows lawsuits to be filed against out-of-state actors. The bill includes exemptions for the pregnant person themselves, licensed Louisiana healthcare providers who are not performing abortions, pharmacists filling legitimate prescriptions, and mental health professionals or advocates offering non-abortion-related support. Titled the “Justice for Victims of Abortion Drug Dealers Act,” this bill encourages aggressive civil litigation around abortion care and medication, raising major concerns about privacy, enforcement, and the potential chilling effect on healthcare providers and support networks.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The effective date is August 1, 2025.

HB445 was amended to clarify and limit how juvenile criminal records can be handled and shared in Louisiana. The original bill proposed removing juvenile records from the state's definition of "criminal history record information," which would have restricted how these records are stored and accessed. The amended version keeps that core goal but makes clear that juvenile records may still be shared within the criminal justice system, while restricting access for all other purposes.

Under the amended bill, juvenile criminal records cannot be included in criminal background checks provided to anyone outside the criminal justice system—such as employers, landlords, or licensing agencies. However, the bill now specifies that these records can still be used and shared within official criminal justice networks at both the state and local levels. It also requires the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information to manage juvenile records in line with specific sections of the Children’s Code and related confidentiality rules. In effect, HB445 draws a clearer boundary: juvenile records stay available to law enforcement and courts, but are walled off from broader public or private use—preserving confidentiality and helping to prevent long-term harm to young people.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The effective date is August 1, 2025.

HB619 is a bill that would ban unhoused people from sleeping or residing in public spaces, such as sidewalks, parks, or underpasses, unless the local government sets aside specially designated land for that purpose. These "public camping" zones can only be created if shelter beds are full, must be located away from residential areas, and must meet strict safety, sanitation, and enforcement standards. If cities or parishes fail to comply, residents, business owners, or even the Attorney General can sue them to shut the areas down. While the bill claims to promote health and safety, its real effect would be to force unhoused people out of sight without guaranteeing them stable housing. It prioritizes aesthetics and policing over actual care, and could leave many with nowhere legal to exist.

STATUS: Passed the House Health and Welfare Committee, but it was recommitted to the House Appropriations Committee. It failed to pass the Appropriations Committee keeping it from becoming law.

HB262 is a bill that would give police expanded authority to arrest unhoused people or others staying in vacant or abandoned properties, without a warrant and based on minimal evidence. The bill redefines the term “squatter” as “adverse possessor” and allows officers to arrest anyone accused of occupying property without permission if there’s “reasonable suspicion” they’ve violated any criminal law. That suspicion can be based solely on a neighbor’s complaint, the condition of the property, or alleged signs of entry, no proof or due process required. In practice, this bill would make it easier to criminalize people experiencing homelessness, exposing them to arrest and prosecution simply for seeking shelter.

STATUS: Failed to pass the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee on May 14th.

SB2 was amended and now reverses Louisiana’s default policy on public water fluoridation. Under current law, public water systems with at least 5,000 connections are required to fluoridate their water if fluoride levels fall outside the “optimal range,” unless they meet specific exemption criteria. The amended version of SB2 flips this structure—fluoridation is now prohibited unless it is specifically approved by local voters through a petition and election process.

To allow fluoridation under the new framework, at least 15% of registered voters in the precincts served by the water system must sign a petition, and a local election must then be held. Fluoridation can only proceed if a majority of voters approve it. The bill also clarifies that systems are not required to remove naturally occurring fluoride from their water. Earlier committee amendments had included a future ban on the use of chlorine gas in water treatment, but that provision was removed by floor amendment.

If enacted, SB2 would take effect on January 1, 2026. While supporters frame it as a move toward local control, public health experts warn it may result in reduced access to a proven, cost-effective dental health intervention, especially in rural or lower-income areas where voter-led initiatives may be harder to organize.

STATUS: Passed the Senate and crossed over into the House. Awaiting a hearing in the House Health & Welfare Committee. It failed to pass committee, keeping it from becoming law.

SB4 is a bill that would allow political campaign signs to be posted at public school athletic fields and gymnasiums if the signs are paid for by a political candidate or campaign. While current law prohibits political signs on publicly owned property and utility poles, this bill creates a specific exception for school sports facilities.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The effective date is August 1, 2025.

HB586 is a bill that would call for a constitutional convention in Louisiana beginning on December 2, 2025, for the purpose of drafting a new state constitution. The convention would consist of 105 delegates, including elected representatives from each parish and appointees from government bodies and the governor. The convention would need to complete its work by October 2, 2026, and the proposed new constitution would then be submitted to voters for approval during the general election on December 12, 2026.

STATUS: Passed the House and Governmental Affairs Committee and recommitted to the House Appropriations Committee. It was never scheduled for debate.

SB20 is a bill that would amend the constitution to change the number of bills each legislator may file during fiscal sessions (like this year’s), which occur on odd-numbered years. These sessions are intended to focus on the state’s budget, but legislators can still file up to 5 bills that aren’t money-related. This bill would raise their limit to 7 bills per legislator.

STATUS: Passed the Senate and has crossed over to the House. Passed the House and Governmental Affairs Committee and has been debated on the House Floor. It was amended and returned to the calendar, which would’ve allowed them to discuss it again anytime, but they chose not to debate the issue again.

HB625 is a bill that would call for a special statewide election on April 18, 2026, for the purpose of submitting proposed constitutional amendments, if any are adopted during the 2025 Regular Session (this session), to voters. This bill intends to add another election to election-fatigued voters in hopes they don’t show up to vote.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The election will happen.

HB429 is a bill that would provide employment discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. As of now, Louisiana has no employment protections for LGBTQ+ people. This is the 32nd year this bill has been filed.

STATUS: Heard in the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on May 15th. It’s stalled for the remainder of the session.

SB206 is a bill that would establish a state minimum wage, starting at $10 per hour on January 1, 2025, increasing to $12 in 2027, and to $14 in 2029. If the federal minimum wage ever exceeds the state rate, our state would automatically match it. Currently, Louisiana has no state minimum wage, so we use the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

STATUS: Heard in the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on May 14th. It failed to move.

HB215 is a bill that would create an exception to LA’s abortion ban for pregnancies resulting from sex offenses committed against victims under the age of 17. It specifies that terminating such a pregnancy would not legally be considered an abortion and, therefore, legal.

(Trigger Warning) The sexual offenses covered include rape, sexual battery, and incest. The bill also makes clear that no police report, forensic evidence, or prosecution is required to access this exception.

STATUS: Failed to pass the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.

SB78 is a bill that would expands the legal exemption for drug checking tools under Louisiana’s drug paraphernalia laws. Currently, only rapid fentanyl test strips are exempt from being classified as drug paraphernalia. This bill broadens that exemption to include any testing equipment or devices solely used to detect whether a substance contains any controlled substance, chemical, or compound that could cause physical harm or death. By doing so, this bill supports harm reduction strategies that can help prevent overdoses and save lives.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The effective date is the date the governor signed the bill into law, which was June 8, 2025

HB279 is a bill that would require students who join certain organizations at LA postsecondary education institutions, such as fraternities, sororities, and athletic teams, to complete a one-credit hour anti-hazing course within their first two semesters of membership. It also requires that if the student is a minor, the anti-hazing information must be provided to their parent or guardian. The bill builds on existing law that mandates hazing prevention education and awareness at colleges and universities.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The effective date is August 1, 2025.

HB133 is a bill that would increase the state’s earned income tax credit (EITC) from 5% to 10% of the amount of the federal EITC for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. The EITC benefits low to moderate-income working individuals and families.

STATUS: Heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on May 5th.

HB271 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead exemption from $7,500 to $12,500 of assessed property value, equivalent to an increase from $75,000 to $125,000 in market value. It also adjusts related exemptions for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for qualified first responders to align with the new exemption level.

The homestead exemption reduces the amount of a homeowner’s property that is subject to taxation, lowering their annual tax bill and helping make homeownership more affordable.

STATUS: Passed the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee. Failed to pass the House Floor.

HB354 is a bill that would require public water systems to conduct a chlorine strip test on any sample collected for federal Lead and Copper testing. This adds an extra layer of water quality monitoring to help ensure safe drinking water.

STATUS: Never scheduled for a hearing in the House Health and Welfare Committee.

HB573 is a bill that would establish a statewide, uniform system for law enforcement data collection, requiring agencies to report detailed information about police stops, use of force, no-knock warrants, complaints, officer demographics, and more. It mandates public access to the data and imposes penalties for noncompliance, including the withholding of state and federal funds. Notably, the bill includes the collection of demographic data such as race, gender, disability, and whether a complaint involves someone perceived to be lesbian, gay, trans, queer, or gender-nonconforming.

Tracking this data for trans people is especially important because it will finally provide visibility into how law enforcement interacts with trans and gender-nonconforming individuals, data we currently do not have.

STATUS: Failed to pass the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee on May 20th.

SB178 is a bill that would establish the School Employee Bill of Rights, formally outlining and protecting a set of rights for public school employees related to workplace safety, discipline, compensation, and professional respect. It guarantees school employees the right to work in a safe and orderly environment, to be treated with civility, to be involved in student behavior decisions, and to receive due compensation and training. The bill also protects staff from retaliation when they take disciplinary action in line with school policy.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The bill will be effective as soon as the Governor signs it, which should be before July 2nd, 2025.

SB211 is a bill that would allow LA courts to prohibit individuals from carrying concealed handguns without a permit if they are found to pose a risk of imminent harm to themselves or others. A district attorney can petition the court based on probable cause and must show evidence such as past violence, reckless firearm behavior, or substance abuse. If granted, the court order would require the person to surrender firearms. The person could later seek to lift the restriction, but even then, would only regain the right to carry with a permit. This bill creates an exception to Louisiana's permitless carry law to protect public safety.

STATUS: Heard in the Senate Judiciary C Committee on May 13th.

HB471 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require all future amendments to the Louisiana Constitution to be clearly confined to a single object or issue. It removes the legislature’s current ability to revise an entire article of the constitution through one amendment that contains multiple unrelated changes. This change would ensure more transparency and simplicity in constitutional amendments, allowing voters to consider each issue separately rather than bundled together.

STATUS:Failed to pass the House and Governmental Affairs Committee on May 20th.

HB581 is a bill that would prohibit anyone over the age of 16 or any entity from intentionally releasing inflated balloons outdoors. Exceptions are made for scientific or meteorological releases, hot air balloons that are recovered, and indoor balloon releases.

STATUS: Passed the legislature to become law. The effective date is August 1, 2025.